Article metering apparatus, system &amp; methods

ABSTRACT

An article metering system is generally provided. The system is primarily comprised of a conveyor section, for receipt of a bulk flow of articles and conveyance of spaced apart metered article groups downstream of an ingress portion thereof, and an article metering station characterized by an article metering apparatus characterized by a drive assembly and a driven member driven thereby. The driven member includes an end effector for select positioning between adjacent articles of articles of the bulk flow of articles received by the conveyor section in furtherance of delimiting a downstream spaced apart metered article group characterized by a select number of columns. The drive assembly includes cooperatively driven servo drives to effectuate travel of the end effector in either of a downstream article flow direction or an upstream article flow direction, and an up/down direction in relation to articles of the bulk flow of articles received by the conveyor section.

This is an international application filed under 35 USC §363 claimingpriority under 35 USC §120 of/to U.S. Pat. Appl. Ser. No. 61/587,982filed Jan. 18, 2012 and entitled ARTICLE METERING APPARATUS, SYSTEM &METHODS, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to article metering, moreparticularly, to apparatus, systems and methods for metering articlesfrom a continuous/semi-continuous/batch-continuous stream into anarticle group and/or pack pattern in advance of loading/packingoperations, more particularly still, to metering operations which arefast and reliable using one or more mechanisms which permit a highdegree of processing variability, i.e., a wide variety of differentarticles, e.g., cans, bottles, jars, cartons, bundles, trays, etc. anddifferently sized/configured articles of a select article type, andwhich provide load sensing and commensurate process control so as toyield overall improved process management.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a typical packing operation, articles (i.e., “products”) approach apackaging station or the like via a continuous or semi-continuous streamhaving origins in an upstream bulk flow of articles. As suchoperations/processing lines are more often than not intended toaggregate articles in multiples in furtherance of establishing amulti-pack of articles, e.g., multi-pack cases (e.g., 6, 12, 24 articlepacks or bundles), stacked trays of arrayed articles, etc., it isnecessary to manage, prepare or ready the continuous inflow stream ofarticles so as to separate the articles into groups or select groups asis generally well known. Once grouped or collated, the article group orset may be further processed, such as by being placed into a packpattern and/or packed into a film over-wrap or corrugated wrap.Notionally, article metering, article separation, and article loading(e.g., case or carton loading) are requisite steps attendant to amajority of article packaging operations.

Notionally, articles are sequentially passed to and through a variety of“stations” whereupon the articles are operated upon in furtherance ofmetering, grouping, spacing apart the groupings, and/or packing/bundlingetc. Commonly, a series of conveying mechanisms, e.g., step operatedbelt conveyors or the like, are provided to transport or selectivelytransport the articles. For example, and by way of illustration,conveyance mechanisms may be provided in connection to article supply,article infeed, article group sweep/outfeed.

Conveyance and operational or functional transition points generallyrequire attention, care and management. For instance, article conveyancemay be specifically arrested via a holding belt or belts as taught byCruver (U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,027), or via a retaining member or retainingdevice as taught by Aronsson (U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,726,463 & 8,113,335,respectively), in advance of article grouping via a metering stationcharacterized by track mounted metering pins or bars which engage eitheror both of a trailing or leading article group “face” during travelabout a fixed travel path delimited by the track. Ramifications of sucharrest or selective retention are varied, primarily a function of thecharacter of article, e.g., its compressibility or notionally its“elasticity,” as well as its configuration/center of gravity, etc.).Typically, the “cost” of surge management has been the use of dedicatedarresting/retention devices and an attendant methodical, discreteprocessing step which generally slows article processing.

As to article metering and/or metering and separation operations,approaches disclosed by Peterman et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,843,360,7,222,716 & 7,533,768) and Pundsack et al. (WO 2009/124026 A1), each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, generallyimprove upon, among others, the approaches noted above. The manner ofmetering and separating product described and shown, namely, onecharacterized by, among other things, a stationary or fixed transferplate bridging infeed and sweep conveyors, a product or article transferdevice (e.g., a “slip sheet”) and/or a “control device” for at leastregistering a leading edge or face of the article group on the transferdevice or the like, has enjoyed considerable market success, and isgenerally recognized as a differentiated approach to heretofore knownoperations.

In addition to being a known, welcome improvement over heretoforeincremental advances in or with regard to prior “pin” metering devices,e.g., see the work of Pazdernik (U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,823) and Andersonet al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,178) which generally and notionally create aselect spaced apart condition for and between articles via theimposition of pins between adjacent articles from below, pins whichfunction to restrain an upstream article of adjacent article whileadvancing (e.g., pushing) the downstream article of the adjacentarticles, the article transfer device is an elegant solution infurtherance of improved processing speed, via among other things, theelimination of article infeed arresting and its inherent stop/startinterval. Moreover, further advances embodied in dual “slip sheet”approaches, such as that disclosed by Pazdernik (U.S. Pub. No. US2011/0067975), and in an endless loop (i.e., non retractable) “slipsheet,” such as that disclosed by Anderson et al. (U.S. Pat. No.8,011,495), each of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, have likewise enjoyed and continue to enjoy commercialsuccess.

With current metering/metering-separating approaches characterized bytrack supported metering bars (or alignment bars, or sweep bars, or dualfunction align-sweep bars) for select engagement of articlespart-and-parcel of article grouping operations (e.g., Cruver, Aronsson,Peterman et al. & Pundsack et al.) considered welcomed improvementsrelative to pin metering from below, it remains desirable to improveupon the state of the art which is believed to nonetheless possesslimitations with regard to operational flexibility, repeatability,changeover, throughput, surge management, and overall process controlvis-a-vis improved operative control linkages for, with, between andamong the sought after processing operations.

For example, processing versatility remains desirable owing to thedisparate character or configuration of or for the articles (e.g., can,bottle, jug, tray, etc.), the size or capacity of the articles (e.g.,volume or mass), and/or the character of the article contents, i.e., thenature of the product (e.g., solid, aggregate, liquid (carbonated,non-carbonated)). Moreover, even for a select article processing run,both product and operational conditions may be varied or variablethroughout the run owning to, among other things, a lack of homogeneityin the articles of the bulk article flow, or the character of theconveying surfaces of the conveying mechanisms of the line due tospills, periodic wash downs, etc.

In light of the foregoing operational and/or system approaches withregard to article conveying, metering, grouping, group separation andgrouped article loading, packing or packaging etc., and presentlyperceived shortcomings associated with article metering which impactboth upstream and downstream operations, it is believed advantageous toprovide, among other things, a higher degree of precision,repeatability, product stability, and speed to metering operations viathe utilization of trackless metering. More particularly, it is believedadvantageous to leverage cooperatively driven servo drive mechanisms, ineither or both of rotary and linear forms, in an article meteringapparatus in furtherance of effectuating a trackless orbit for anarticle metering tool. Moreover, it is believed advantageous to providemeans, in the form of one or more control or feedback loops, for anarticle processing system wherein a property of an article/product perse may be detected, and/or wherein a change in a property of thearticle/product under process may be detected, and further still robustmeans which also or alternatively detects a property associated with thebulk flow of articles, and/or detects a change in a quality and/orcharacter of the bulk flow of articles in furtherance of effectuating a“smart” metering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An article metering system and method of article metering is generallyprovided. As to the system, it is primarily comprised of a conveyorsection, for receipt of a bulk flow of articles and conveyance of spacedapart metered article groups downstream of an ingress portion thereof,and an article metering station characterized by an article meteringapparatus characterized by a drive assembly and a driven member driventhereby. The driven member includes an end effector for selectpositioning between adjacent articles of articles of the bulk flow ofarticles received by the conveyor section in furtherance of delimiting adownstream spaced apart metered article group characterized by a selectnumber of rows and columns. The drive assembly includes cooperativelydriven servo drives to effectuate travel of the end effector in eitherof a downstream article flow direction or an upstream article flowdirection, and an up/down direction in relation to articles of the bulkflow of articles received by the conveyor section.

Among contemplated embodiments, systems characterized by a transferdevice are described and shown. More particularly, an ingress portion ofa conveyor section, such as a sweep conveyor or the like, may besuitably equipped with a transfer device, e.g., a retractable transferdevice. A downstream most portion of the bulk flow articles areselectively supported and conveyed thereupon/thereby at a bulk flowvelocity, with an altered state or condition for such device permittingtransfer of an article group to the sweep conveyor having a velocitygreater than the bulk flow velocity so as to facilitate the formation ofa spaced apart metered article group.

Moreover, various contemplated alternate metering apparatus embodimentsfor the disclosed article metering systems are identified, described andgenerally illustrated. For example, contemplated cooperatively drivenservo drive mechanisms of the apparatus drive assemblies include eitherof rotary driven servo drive mechanisms or linearly driven servo drivemechanisms.

Further still, article metering stations characterized by single or dualarticle metering apparatus are contemplated and presented. In anespecially advantageous embodiment, the article metering apparatussubstantially comprises a parallel robot, more particularly, a delta 2(D2) robot.

As to the method of article metering, a bulk flow of articles isgenerally and preliminarily established, more particularly, a bulk flowof articles characterized by at least a single row of flowing articlesfrom which a preselect number of downstream most articles of the bulkflow of articles are to be operated upon in furtherance of establishingspaced apart metered article groups. Provisions for an article meteringstation are made, more particularly, an article metering station intowhich the bulk flow articles flow. The article metering station isgenerally characterized by cooperatively driven servo mechanisms and atool operatively supported thereby so as to selectively orbit the toolover a preselect number of downstream most articles of the bulk flow ofarticles, and into the downstream most articles of the bulk flow ofarticles so as to delimit a metered article group. The tool isselectively interposed between adjacent articles of the downstream mostarticles of the bulk flow of articles so as to delimit a metered articlegroup and facilitate and/or effectuate an acceleration of the meteredarticle group in relation to the bulk flow articles so as to establish aspaced apart metered article group.

Finally, in connection to both the contemplated article metering systemand method, either or both of article/product property sensing/detectingand bulk flow article property sensing/detecting is advantageouslyundertaken, preferably, but not exclusively, in connection to the driveassembly of the article metering apparatus. Via one or more feedbacksystems/loops, in process article and/or bulk flow article assessmentsmay be made, with a commensurate altering or modification of one or moreprocessing operations responsive to the detection condition or changethereto. For example, and without limitation, it is contemplated thatsuch monitoring/sensing be advantageously part-and-parcel of a surgefeedback control in furtherance of the establishment of smart meteringwhereby overall improved process management, and increased throughputwith a minimization of downtime is effectuated. More specific featuresand advantages obtained in view of those features will become apparentwith reference to the drawing figures and DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEINVENTION.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS & DEPICTIONS THEREOF

FIG. 1 depicts an article metering station, perspective view slightlyfrom above, characterized by a conveyor section and an article meteringapparatus, article flow right to left;

FIG. 2 depicts article metering operations at the article meteringstation of FIG. 1, an established article group (EAG) indicated,relative to bulk flow articles (BFA);

FIGS. 3A-3C depict an alternate non-limiting article metering station,perspective view slightly from above, characterized by a conveyorsection and article metering apparatuses, article flow right to left,spaced apart established article group (EAG) and a working article group(WAG) indicated, relative to the bulk flow articles (BFA), at selectprocess intervals represented by each of FIGS. 3A-3C;

FIG. 4 depicts a further non-limiting article metering station,perspective view slightly from above, characterized by a conveyorsection and an alternate article metering apparatus pair, article flowright to left; and,

FIGS. 5A-5E depict a variant of the article metering station of FIG. 4,side elevation article flow left to right, an established article group(EAG), and a working article group (WAG) indicated relative to the bulkflow articles (BFA) at select process intervals represented by each ofFIGS. 5A-5E.

All figures have been prepared to facilitate and/or enhance anunderstanding of the basic teachings of the present invention, and/orthe concepts underlying same. Extensions of the figures with respect tonumber, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form oneor more preferred embodiments or variants thereof may be explained or isunderstood to be within the skill of the art after the followingdescription has been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensionsand dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight,strength, and similar requirements relative to, e.g., processingobjectives, will likewise be within the skill of the art after thefollowing description has been read and understood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “side,”“end,” “bottom,” “first,” “second,” “laterally,” “longitudinally,”“row,” “column,” and similar terms are used herein, it should beunderstood that these terms have reference only to the structure shownin the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings andare utilized only to facilitate describing illustrative embodiments orvariants thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred, non-limiting structures and/or mechanisms relating to and forimproved robust article metering are generally presented throughout thefigures of the subject disclosure. By way of overview, systems and/orprocesses depicted in FIGS. 1-3A are characterized by at least a singlemetering apparatus embodied by a parallel robot for effectuating atrackless, variable path, variable pitch article metering. In contrastto the rotary servo driven robotic mechanisms of FIGS. 1-4, linear servodriven mechanisms, e.g., a gantry system as per the article meteringsystems of FIGS. 4 & 5, are contemplated to effectuate a trackless,variable path, variable pitch article metering. Finally, it is to beinitially noted that particularly advantageous and non-limiting articlemetering processes are further characterized by a “gap” formingoperation with respect to a downstream segment of the bulk flow articlesto facilitate or enhance article collation and grouping, as by anarticle transfer device moveable between extended and retractedpositions (e.g., see the article metering systems of FIGS. 1, 5, & 6A)and/or means, in the form of one or more control or feedback loopspart-and-parcel perhaps of a larger process “management” system, for anarticle processing system wherein a property of an article/product perse may be detected, and/or wherein a change in a property of thearticle/product under process may be detected, and further still robustmeans which also or alternatively detects a property associated with thebulk flow of articles, and/or detects a change in a quality and/orcharacter of the bulk flow of articles in furtherance of effectuating a“smart” metering.

Notionally, there is shown metering systems (FIGS. 1 & 4, and the systemvariants thereof depicted in each of FIGS. 3A & 5A, respectively)generally characterized by a conveyor section for receipt of a bulk flowof articles (BFA) at an ingress portion thereof (see e.g., FIG. 2 inrelation to the system of FIG. 1), and for conveyance of spaced apartmetered article groups (i.e., established article groups (EAG))downstream of the ingress portion thereof, and an article meteringstation characterized by an article metering apparatus wherein workingarticle groups (WAG) are delimited.

The article metering apparatus, generally and fairly, is characterizedby a drive assembly and a driven member or element driven thereby. Thedriven member includes a select end effector or tool for selectpositioning between adjacent articles of articles of the bulk flowstream of articles received by the conveyor section in furtherance ofdelimiting a downstream spaced apart metered article group, with thecharacter/configuration of the metering tool being generally a functionof the articles being processed/metered. Article metering stationscharacterized by a single article metering apparatus are contemplated,and shown (FIGS. 1 & 5A), as are article metering stations characterizedby dual (i.e., two) article metering apparatuses (FIGS. 3A & 4), withsynchronous operation of article metering apparatuses to effectuatealternating, sequential “A”/“B” article groupings.

As will be later developed and particularized, the drive assemblyincludes cooperatively driven servo drives or mechanisms, e.g., and asshown, rotary drive servo mechanisms characteristic of the meteringapparatuses of either of FIG. 1 or 3A, or linear drive servo mechanismscharacteristic of the metering apparatuses of either of FIG. 4 or 5A, toeffectuate travel of the end effector in either of a downstream articleflow direction or an upstream article flow direction, and an up/downdirection in relation to articles of the bulk flow of articles receivedby the conveyor section in furtherance of establishing collated andseparated groups of articles.

As will become apparent as this discussion proceeds, the meteringapparatus of the metering station periodically retains the bulk flow ofarticles at a downstream most locus of the bulk flow of articlesreceived by the conveyor section. The article metering system, in lightof such circumstance, may advantageously, but not necessarily furtherinclude, or be characterized by a load monitoring/sensing controller orcontrol loop, e.g., a surge feedback control, alone or integral to thecontemplated process “management” system. Load monitoring and/or sensingis undertaken in connection to the drive assembly of the articlemetering apparatus, via, e.g., current sensing via the program logiccontroller of the servo motor drive, with control of another processsystem parameter, for instance, a conveyor of the conveyor section,selectively effectuated to manage (i.e., relieve) bulk flow articlesurge, and thus eliminate or at least reduce surge related process flowstoppages/aberrations.

Finally, and in the further context of article flow management which, toat least some extent has a bearing upon the formation of spaced apartmetered article groups, the ingress portion of the conveyor section mayadvantageously, but not necessarily, include a retractable transferdevice not inconsistent with Applicant's prior teachings (see e.g., U.S.Pat. No. 6,843,360, U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,768, USPN US 2011/0067975 and/orWO 2009/124026 (USPN US 2011/0005898)), or, alternatively, Applicant'sprior “endless loop” non-retractable transfer teaching (U.S. Pat. No.8,011,495), or portions thereof, may be leveraged in an adaptation ofthe contemplated article metering system. Essentially, a downstream mostportion of the bulk flow articles may be selectively supported andconveyed by/upon the retractable transfer device at a bulk flowvelocity, with retraction of the retractable transfer devicetransferring an article group to a conveyor of the conveyor sectionhaving a velocity greater than the bulk flow velocity so as toeffectuate formation of a spaced apart metered article group. Sucharrangement is contemplated for high/higher speed article metering, withsuch approach having particular utility for a “windowless” presentationof articles (i.e., for contiguous articles lacking appreciable spacingin “plan” view, e.g., rectangular cartons of uniform cross section asopposed to bottles having a tapered or tapering neck) such that the endeffector may expeditiously and effectively be introduced into the flowof articles in furtherance of any of article metering, article groupaligning (upstream or downstream), or article group spacing and/orarticle group outfeed or transfer. Moreover, such approach is believedparticularly advantageous in the context of an article metering stationcharacterized by a single article metering apparatus.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 1 & 2, and selectively to FIG.3A, there is shown an article metering system 10 characterized by aconveyor section, e.g., a sweep conveyor 12 as schematically indicated,and an article metering station 14. As is generally known, an infeedconveyor 16 as schematically indicated supplies a bulk flow of articles(BFA), FIG. 2, presenting windows 18, or, more generally, an orderedflow of articles having origins in an upstream bulk article source (notshown). Articles conveyed by the infeed conveyor 16 travel downstream ata rate that is generally less than the downstream travel rate associatedwith the sweep conveyor 12. A static transfer plate 20 or the liketraverses an inherent gap 22 between the infeed 16 and sweep 12conveyors to facilitate article transfer or initial article transfer asthe case may be. Adjacently downstream of the article metering stationis, as schematically indicated, an advantageous sweep bar mechanism 24(see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,360 for particulars as warranted),however, it should be appreciated that the function of such mechanism isillustrative of a representative, non-limiting operation upon meteredarticle groups, i.e., established article groups (EAG), FIG. 2.

Advantageously, and as schematically shown, an ingress portion of theconveyor section includes a retractable transfer device 30 upon whicharrayed articles are supported (FIG. 2; but see the article meteringsystem of FIG. 3A). Transfer device 30 is moveable between an extendedposition and a retracted position. Device 30 extends over conveyor 12 inthe extended position, and in the preferred form also extends overconveyor 12 beyond transfer plate 20 in the retracted position. In themost preferred form, device 30 is in the form of a thin piece offlexible material such as a belt requiring external support to allowarticles to be supported thereon. Thus, in the preferred form, device 30in the form of a thin piece of material engages and is supported by belt13 to allow product to be supported upon device 30. In the preferredform, device 30 is moved from its extended position to its retractedposition by having its upstream end secured to the periphery of a roller32 which is rotated such as by a servo motor (not shown). Thus, as theroller is rotated, device 30 is wrapped around the roller and therebyhas a shorter exposed length. In the most preferred form, device 30 ismoved from its retracted position to its extended position by movementwith belt 13 of conveyor 12 as the result of friction between device 30and belt 13, with the servo motor tending to limit the velocity ofdevice 30 to equal that of conveyor 12. It should be appreciated thatdevice 30 could be moved by other manners including but not limited toby being reciprocated such as by air cylinders or like. Likewise, device30 could be formed in other manners such as a flat piece of nonflexiblematerial which does not rely upon belt 13 for external support and whichcould be slid under transfer plate 20 in its retracted position.However, it is believed that the flexible material forming device 30 isadvantageous for several reasons including inertia concerns, costs, andthe like.

An article metering apparatus 40, either a single apparatus as per thesystem of FIG. 1, or the dual apparatuses of the system of FIG. 3A, maybe fairly characterized as a parallel robot, e.g., a delta 2 robot. Theapparatus generally includes a drive assembly 42 and a driven member 44driven thereby, more particularly, a driven member equipped with an endeffector, e.g., a fork or pinned tool as shown. The drive assembly 42advantageously, but not necessarily, includes cooperatively driven servodrive mechanisms, namely, paired rotating servo drive mechanisms 50, anda linkage characterized by a set of arms, each arm 52 having first 54and second 56 arm segments. First arm segment 54 of each arm 52 extendsfrom each output shaft 58 of the rotating servo drive mechanisms 50,second arm 56 pivotingly extends from first arm segment 54, each secondarm segment 56 being generally coterminous in support of driven member44.

Having generally outlined features for the system of FIG. 1 and to agreat extent the system of FIG. 3A, operations with regard to the FIG. 1system variant will be taken up in connection to the system anddepictions of FIG. 3A-3C. As a threshold matter, and briefly, thearticle metering system 10 depicted includes a conveyor section, e.g., asweep conveyor 12, for receipt of a bulk flow of articles, in this casefrom infeed conveyor 16, and an article metering station 14characterized by dual article meter apparatuses 40A, 40B, each apparatus40A, 40B substantially comprised of a parallel robot. The driven member44, and more particularly the end effector thereof 46, overlies the belt13 of the sweep conveyor 12, with the cooperatively driven rotary servodrive mechanisms 50 advantageously, but not necessarily, underlying thebelt 13 of the sweep conveyor 12, and more particularly as shown, therotary servo drive mechanisms 50 are supported such that the belt 13 ofthe sweep conveyor 12 substantially circumscribed same. Via sucharrangement, the drive assembly linkage may be proximally adjacent thelongitudinally extending belt 13 of the sweep conveyor 12 as shown.

With particular reference to FIG. 3A, two rows of beverage containersare shown generally flowing as bulk flow articles (BFA) figure right tofigure left, with the sweep conveyer 12 in continuous, uninterruptedreceipt of articles from the infeed conveyer 16. An end effector 46associated with a first article metering apparatus 40A (i.e., a“background” or rear apparatus) is shown in a substantially engaged(i.e., inserted) hold posture in relation to the bulk flow articles infurtherance of delimiting a 2×4 article group or array (i.e., a workingarticle group (WAG)). At the downstream most extremity of the workingarticle group, an end effector 46 of a second article metering apparatus40B (i.e., a “foreground” or front apparatus) is shown in a posture foreffectuating alignment for the working article group. Downstream of theworking article group, in a spaced apart condition, is an establishedarticle group (EAG) of a series of established article groups. The newlymetered established article group departs article metering station 14,and as shown, passes toward a sweep bar mechanism 24 for furtherenhanced advancement of the established article group.

With particular reference to FIG. 3B, with continued select drivenactuation of drive assembly links of the first and second articlemetering apparatuses 40B, the as-shown process relationships result.More particularly, end effector 46 of first apparatus 40A maintains aretention and general surge holding posture with regard to the bulk flowarticles while end effector 46 second apparatus 40B assumes a downstreammost release posture such that an initial and soon expanding gap isformed between the working article group and the retained bulk flowarticles. It is to be appreciated in connection to the subject system,that incorporation of a surge feedback control, essentially linking themonitored/sensed load having origins in, e.g., bulk flow articlepressure, with regard to either or both of the article meteringapparatuses greatly enhances overall process management, with a varietyof system parameters being amendable to select responsive on-the-flyalteration to effectuate smart metering.

Finally, with particular reference FIG. 3C, with further select drivenactuation of drive assembly links of the first and second articlemetering apparatuses, end effector 46 of second apparatus 40B travelsupstream in furtherance of bulk flow article engagement so as tocommence metering and formation of a sequential working article group.End effector 46 of second article metering apparatus 40B generallyfunctions to retain the bulk flow articles and align the downstream mostarticle pair.

With particular reference now to FIG. 4, there is shown a furtherarticle metering system 10 generally consistent with that of FIG. 1 butfor particulars of an article metering apparatus 40′ of the articlemetering station 14 thereof. As was the case with the system of FIG. 3A,dual article metering apparatuses are contemplated, and believedadvantageous, however, a single such apparatus, slightly modified, isshown for the metering system of FIG. 5A.

The article metering apparatus 40′ generally includes a drive assembly42′ and a driven member 44′ driven thereby, more particularly, a drivenmember 44′ equipped with an end effector 46′, e.g., a forked tool asshown. The drive assembly 42′ advantageously, but not necessarily,includes cooperatively driven servo drive mechanisms, namely, pairedlinear servo drive mechanisms 60 a, 60B. Owing to the absence of a gearbox as is required of the earlier discussed rotating servo drivemechanisms, the subject article metering apparatus is especiallyamenable to effective, direct surge monitoring and/or sensing infurtherance of the implementation of an overarching surge feedbackcontrol implicating a variety of readily controllable mechanisms and/orprocess parameters to better manage overall process flow and thus permitgreater article throughput and increased overall efficiency.

A first linear servo drive mechanism 60A of article metering apparatus40′ is adapted for translation upon a fixed travel rail 62.Advantageously, but not necessarily, the static rail 62 is supportinglypositioned proximally adjacent sweep conveyor 12 as shown, withtranslation generally corresponding to/with upstream/downstream articleflow.

A second linear servo drive mechanism 60B of article metering apparatus40′ is generally supported or otherwise united to first linear servodrive mechanism 60A for travel therewith, more particularly, secondlinear servo drive mechanism 60B is angularly oriented in relation tofirst linear servo drive mechanism 60A in furtherance of effectuating analternate translation of driven member 44 of the apparatus 40′, and thusa reversible translation for end effector or metering tool 46. Secondlinear servo drive mechanism 60B retains and passes, or is adapted toretain and pass driven member 44. Via such arrangement, a swiftaccurate, responsive orbit (i.e., travel path) for the meteringimplement is enabled, an orbit which may be quickly altered, whether inrelation to the configuration or shape of the orbit, or in relation tothe speed of travel of a segment or portion of the orbit.

Having generally outlined features for the system of FIG. 4, operationsundertaken with regard to a variant thereof will be taken up inconnection to the system of FIG. 5A, and depictions of FIGS. 5A-5E. Inlieu of a presentation of similarities, points of departure are to bebriefly noted in advance of an operational synopsis of the contemplatedprocess.

First, in contradistinction to the dual apparatus approach of FIG. 4, asingle apparatus 40″ is indicated. Second, each of the linear servodrive mechanisms 60A′, 60B′ of the cooperatively driven linear servodrive mechanisms is correspondingly supported for translation upon afixed travel rail, for instance, first linear servo mechanism 60A′ isadapted for translation upon a travel rail 62′, with second linear servomechanism 60B′ adapted for alternate translation upon a travel rail 64with first linear servo drive mechanism 60A′ adapted to support travelrail 64. Third, the relative position of the metering apparatus is to benoted, namely, travel rail 62′, alternately, the upstream/downstreamtravel rail, is indicated in an elevated condition relative to the belt13 of the sweep conveyor 12, namely, as shown, but not necessarily, atan elevation greater than the article elevation. Finally, commonlandmarks/indicia are generally indicated as the system of FIG. 4, e.g.,the several status conditions for the articles being processed/underprocess, namely, figure left to right, bulk flow articles (BFA), workingarticle group (WAG), and established article group (EAG), a sweepconveyor 12 with travel figure left to right, a retractable transferdevice 30, and end effector travel path (P) also indicated.

With particular reference to FIG. 5A, first linear servo drive mechanism60A′ is shown at an upstream most locus, the end effector associatedwith second linear servo drive mechanism 60B′ positioned in a state ofadvancement toward a free, downstream end of the bulk flow articles, anestablished article group positioned within the article metering station14 and, as indicated, in a spaced apart condition relative to theworking article group. Retractable transfer device 30 is shown insubstantial but not yet maximum extension relative to the belt 13 ofsweep conveyor 12. A downstream most segment of bulk flow articles ofinfeed conveyor 16 are shown in receipt by/upon retractable transferdevice 30, a subset of the articles thereof, i.e., a working group ofarticles, for subsequent transfer to sweep conveyor 12.

With reference now to the remaining operational or processing sequencesof FIGS. 5B-5E, after select actuation of each of the servo drivemechanisms 60A′, 60B′, the relationships for, between and among the FIG.5A structures or elements are as indicated in FIG. 5B. With engagementof end effector 46 with the downstream face of the working articlegroup, second servo drive mechanism 60B′ proceeds downstream at arelatively constant height (FIGS. 5B-5D), and at a velocity notinconsistent with the velocity of the extended and further extendingretractable transfer device 30 (i.e., the metering apparatus 40″ is in aperiod of retaining the bulk flow of article).

As is appreciated with reference to FIGS. 5A-5C, the FIG. 5B posture forillustrated retractable transfer device 30 is a relative downstream mostposture, indicative of a substantial full extension thereof relative tothe belt 13 of the sweep conveyor 12. As the retraction of retractabletransfer device 30 (FIG. 5C) effectuates a progressive transfer of thearticles of the working article group to sweep conveyor 12, acommensurate, measured but nonetheless responsive velocity increase iseffectuated for travel (i.e., downstream travel) of the driven member44/end effector 46 in furtherance of establishing/maintaining adownstream most alignment for the working article group, and infurtherance of delimiting an established article group (FIG. 5D)subsequent to a further relative increased travel (i.e., downstream)velocity for the driven member 44/end effector 46 whereby end effector46 concludes its downstream travel in a spaced apart condition from theestablished article group. As end effector 46 essentially distancesitself from the established article group, retractable transfer device30 commences downstream extension (FIG. 5C→FIG. 5D). Thereafter, as isgenerally indicated and appreciated with reference to FIG. 5E, furtherselect actuations of the servo drive mechanisms 60A′, 60B′ effectuate anelevated and reverse travel for the driven member 44/end effector 46along an upper portion of travel path P.

While advantageous, non-limiting systems, apparatus, devices,mechanisms, methods, etc. relating to spacing of conveyed articles aredepicted, described and/or readily ascertained with reference to theinstant disclosure, alternate not insubstantial functional equivalentsare likewise contemplated to effectuate a sought after on-the-fly pitchand path variation for conveyed articles. Presently known and futuredeveloped means for effectuating the noted functionalities areunderstood to be within the scope of the instant disclosure.

Thus, since the structures of the assemblies/mechanisms disclosed hereinmay be embodied in other specific forms without departing from thespirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have beenindicated, the embodiments described and depicted herein/with are to beconsidered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive.Accordingly, the scope of the subject invention is as defined in thelanguage of the appended claims, and includes not insubstantialequivalents thereto.

That which is claimed:
 1. An article metering system comprising: a. aconveyor section for receipt of a bulk flow of articles characterized byat least a single row of articles at a ingress portion thereof, and forconveyance of spaced apart metered article groups downstream of saidingress portion; and, b. an article metering station characterized by anarticle metering apparatus comprising a drive assembly and a drivenmember driven thereby, said driven member including an end effector forselect positioning between adjacent articles of articles of the bulkflow of articles received by said conveyor section in furtherance ofdelimiting a downstream spaced apart metered article group characterizedby a select number of columns, said drive assembly comprisingcooperatively driven servo drives to effectuate travel of said endeffector in either of a downstream article flow direction or an upstreamarticle flow direction, and an up/down direction in relation to articlesof the bulk flow of articles received by said conveyor section.
 2. Thearticle metering system of claim 1 wherein said metering apparatus ofsaid article metering station periodically retains the bulk flow ofarticles at a downstream most locus of the bulk flow of articlesreceived by said conveyor section.
 3. The article metering system ofclaim 1 wherein said metering apparatus of said article metering stationperiodically retains the bulk flow of articles at a downstream mostlocus of the bulk flow of articles received by said conveyor sectionduring select positioning of said end effector at an upstream mostupstream article flow locus associated with said upstream article flowdirection for said end effector.
 4. The article metering system of claim1 wherein said drive assembly and said driven member delimit a parallelrobot.
 5. The article metering system of claim 1 wherein said driveassembly and said driven member delimit a delta 2 robot.
 6. The articlemetering system of claim 1 in combination with a process managementsystem, either or both of said conveyor section and said articlemetering apparatus of said article metering system selectivelycontrollable by said process management system upon detection of aselect article property, or change with respect thereto, and/or upondetection of a select bulk article flow property, or change with respectthereto.
 7. The article metering system of claim 1 further comprising asurge feedback control, load monitoring/sensing undertaken in connectionto said drive assembly of said article metering apparatus with controlof a conveyor of said conveyor section selectively effectuated.
 8. Thearticle metering system of claim 1 wherein said article meteringapparatus includes a load sensing/monitoring element forsensing/monitoring article surge associated with article accumulationduring select positioning of said end effector between adjacent articlesof articles of the bulk flow of articles conveyed by said conveyorsection.
 9. The article metering system of claim 1 wherein said articlemetering station is characterized by a further article meteringapparatus, said further article metering apparatus synchronouslyoperated in relation to said article metering apparatus.
 10. The articlemetering system of claim 1 wherein said article metering station ischaracterized by a further article metering apparatus, said furtherarticle metering apparatus positioned in opposition to said articlemetering apparatus.
 11. The article metering system of claim 1 whereinsaid article metering station is characterized by a further articlemetering apparatus, a first metered article group of sequential formedmetered article groups delimited by said article metering apparatus, asecond metered article group of sequential formed metered article groupsdelimited by said further article metering apparatus.
 12. The articlemetering system of claim 1 wherein said cooperatively driven servodrives comprise cooperatively driven rotary servo drives.
 13. Thearticle metering system of claim 1 wherein said cooperatively drivenservo drives comprise cooperatively driven linear servo drives.
 14. Thearticle metering system of claim 1 wherein said article meteringapparatus overlies said conveyor section.
 15. The article meteringsystem of claim 1 wherein structure for supporting said driven member ofsaid article metering apparatus is laterally adjacent said conveyorsection.
 16. The article metering system of claim 1 wherein at least oneservo drive of said cooperatively driven servo drives is supported at anelevation not greater than an elevation of a conveyor surface of saidconveyor section.
 17. The article metering system of claim 1 wherein atleast one servo drive of said cooperatively driven servo drives issupported at an elevation not less than an elevation of a conveyorsurface of said conveyor section.
 18. The article metering system ofclaim 1 wherein at least one servo drive of said cooperatively drivenservo drives is supported at an elevation substantially equal to anelevation of a conveyor surface of said conveyor section.
 19. Thearticle metering system of claim 1 wherein servo drives of saidcooperatively driven servo drives underlie a conveyor surface of saidconveyor section.
 20. The article metering system of claim 1 whereinsaid ingress portion of said conveyor section includes a retractabletransfer device, a downstream most portion of the bulk flow articlesselectively supported and conveyed thereupon at a bulk flow velocity,retraction of said retractable transfer device transferring an articlegroup to a conveyor of said conveyor section having a velocity greaterthan the bulk flow velocity so as to effectuate formation of a spacedapart metered article group.
 21. The article metering system of claim 1wherein said cooperatively driven servo drives comprise cooperativelydriven rotary servo drives.
 22. The article metering system of claim 1wherein said cooperatively driven servo drives comprise cooperativelydriven linear servo drives.
 23. A method of article metering comprisingthe steps of: a. establishing a bulk flow of articles characterized byat least a single row of flowing articles from which a preselect numberof downstream most articles of said bulk flow of articles are to beoperated upon in furtherance of establishing spaced apart meteredarticle groups; b. providing an article metering station into which saidbulk flow articles flow, said article metering station comprisingcooperatively driven servo mechanisms and a tool operatively supportedthereby so as to selectively orbit said tool over a preselect number ofdownstream most articles of said bulk flow of articles and into saiddownstream most articles of said bulk flow of articles so as to delimita metered article group; and, c. selectively interposing said toolbetween adjacent articles of said downstream most articles of said bulkflow of articles so as to delimit a metered article group and effectuatean acceleration of said metered article group in relation to said bulkflow articles so as to establish a spaced apart metered article group.